Heart attack was the furthest thing from Bryce Webb’s mind when he went to the Veterans Hospital for a checkup in February 2022. He thought he had indigestion.

You probably know basic numbers that matter in your life – age, height, weight, even your heart rate. But what about more complex factors, like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels? Together, they give you an important picture of your heart health and overall well-being.

Terry Beatty, Milford, appreciates the care he’s received over the years from the vascular specialists at Goshen Hospital. “They’re great people. Top notch. They’re not only experts in their field. They show a great deal of concern for patients and their families. I’ve not met doctors quite like them. I’m grateful and impressed.”

You may think open heart surgery is the only solution when it comes to clogged arteries. That’s not necessarily true.

Have you heard about Life’s Essential 8? It’s an important checklist to help you take care of your heart and enjoy a longer, healthier life.

Brenda Murray, Bristol, started her cardiac rehabilitation program in March 2021 after having a stent placed. Once she completed the 36 sessions, she continued with the maintenance program offered at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center.

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. That’s roughly 805,000 people each year, and 3/4 of those are first-time attacks.

Tim Emely, Ligonier, had a heart attack on Jan. 2, 2003. Then in 2011, he had terrible pain in his legs.

Diane Slis, 62, saw herself as healthy: she didn’t smoke, she exercised regularly and she ate a nutritious diet. After all, she’d seen her father – who smoked and was overweight – die of a heart attack when he was in his early fifties and lost her brother to a heart attack at age 60. Yet in January 2021, Diane was home alone shoveling her driveway after a snowfall when she felt pain in her chest that was so severe, she stopped and went inside to text her husband, Bryan. Can you call me back? It’s kind of urgent.

You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis of a heart or vascular condition to focus on feeling better and having more energy. Because that’s what having a strong heart does – pumps oxygen-rich blood through your body to provide nutrients to your brain, your feet, even your stomach.